10 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Sanya Richards-Ross

Coming off a gold medal victory in the 400m dash Sunday, track athlete Sanya Richards-Ross (pictured) has a great reason to forget her disappointing Beijing performance in 2008. Here NewsOne fills you in on 10 facts about the track sensation that you may not know.

1) Richards-Ross is married to New York Giants player Aaron Ross. The two wed in 2010. [Source: Yahoo Sports]

2) In the 2008 Olympic Games, Sanya nabbed the bronze in the 400m dash, a finish she avenged this year. [Source: Wikipedia]

3) In 2002, Richards-Ross was named National High School Female Athlete of the Year. [Source: Wikipedia]

4) Earlier this year, Richards-Ross set four world-record leading times in the 200m and 400m dashes at the USA Indoor Track Championships. [Source: USA Track And Field]

5) Richards-Ross founded her own charity, the Sanya Richards Fast Track Program, in 2007. The program promotes literacy, numeracy, and athleticism for youth in her native Jamaica. [Source: USA Track And Field]

Watch Sanya at the 2012 IAAF Track And Field Diamond League:

6) Richards-Ross has an estimated net worth of $1 million. [Source: The Richest.org]

7) Richards-Ross was part of the U.S. team in the 4×400 meter relay, helping them win gold. [Source: Wikipedia]

8) Even though she represents Team USA, Richards-Ross was actually born in Jamaica, emigrating to the States at age 12. [Source: Wikipedia]

Watch Sanya at the 105th Millrose Games:

9) In 2008, Richards-Ross was diagnosed with Bechet’s Disease, an illness where excessive cold sores and lesions develop around the mouth. Fortunately for Richards-Ross, though, this was eventually proven to be a misdiagnosis. [Source: Bleacher Report]

10) Aside from her athleticism, Richards-Ross expresses herself through fashion, having appeared in numerous spreads for Seventeen, Glamour, and Vogue magazines. [Source: Bleacher Report]